The Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM)-View is a web browser-based application that displays map pairs of the same area, each at different sea levels. The strength of this tool is its ability to visually show the modeling of sea level rise predictions, allowing people to see the impacts in a more intuitive way.

It provides tools for improved understanding of results from research projects that use Version 2.0. SLAMM-View was designed for a user-friendly, workflow-based approach to assess impacts of sea-level rise on coastal areas with both visualization and analysis functionality. SLAMM-View provides simultaneous comparison between both current and future conditions out to the year 2100, and among different sea-level rise scenarios (e.g., 0.4 meter vs. 1 meter), using interactive maps and tabular reporting capabilities.

To date, SLAMM-View provides access to SLAMM simulation results for the entire coastlines of 5 states, and partial coverage of an additional 4 states. SLAMM-View can be used in either Quick Mode or Interactive Mode:

Use Quick Mode to:
• Enter your location of interest
• Find out if SLAMM results are available for that location
• Immediately compare maps of current and future conditions maps for any available location
• Access all Interactive Mode functionality

Use Interactive Mode to:
• View Project-level summary information
• Interactively select a Project, Region, Scenario(s), and Simulation Years
• Compare maps of current and future conditions
• Specify a geography and create a report summarizing changes over time for each scenario

“Sea level rise is certainly one of the most pressing issues facing many coastal communities, as well as national wildlife refuges,” said Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Manager Lou Hinds. “SLAMM will be used by many coastal refuge managers to involve the public in discussions concerning sea level rise as part of the Comprehensive Conservation Planning process. This planning process must be undertaken every 15 years and unless something changes dramatically coastal refuges will be dealing with this issue over the next 100 years,” Hinds added.

Most sea level rise models examine inundation patterns and do not take into account the biological impacts. SLAMM also looks at sediment and organic matter accumulation on the marshes as well as erosion from tides and storms that can overtake coastal barrier beaches. In addition, SLAMM depicts how these relationships will remain coupled as sea levels rise.

The SLAMM also predicts changes in coastal wetlands and shorelines. These simulations are based on the best available science and technology. Users can select different scenarios by combining time, in 25-year intervals, at different severities, e.g., 0.5 meters to 1 meter increase in sea level.

“This new web-mapping tool can be used to educate communities on the potential effects of sea level increases,” said Leopoldo Miranda, Supervisor, Chesapeake Bay Field Office. “For nearly 20 years, the information provided by SLAMM was available only in table or static map form. SLAMM-View now provides this in a visually dynamic way that more organizations and individuals will be able to use.”

One unique aspect of SLAMM is that the dual maps are geographically-linked: zooming or panning in one map causes an identical alteration in the other map. Regional simulations have been posted on SLAMM-View for a number of important estuaries, including Delaware Bay, coastal South Carolina, coastal Georgia, Puget Sound and Chesapeake Bay. As data becomes available, more map layers and simulations will be made available to the public, including site-specific SLAMM simulations for Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The Viewer shows 45 possible fine-scale combinations of sea level rise scenarios with over a dozen contextual layers you can turn on or off. The visual impact of this map modeling tool makes it a reality to everyone.

US Fish & Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory.
The US Fish & Wildlife Service produces information on the characteristics, extent, and status of the Nation’s wetlands and deepwater habitats.

Vanishing Lands, Sea Level, Society and Chesapeake Bay, 1995 Fifteen years ago, the Coastal Program developed this publication. Although 15 years old, we still believe it serves as a source of good baseline information, helping managers with their restoration efforts in the Bay ecosystem.
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